Apparatus for manufacturing acid phosphate or superphosphate



T. J. STURTEVANT.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ACID PHOSPHATE 0R SUPERPHOSPHATE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, I92I.

1,428,921 Paeendsept. 12, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

T. STURTEVANT. APPARATUS MANUFACTURING ACID PHOSPHATE 0R SUPERPHOSPHATE.

. APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, 1921. I 1,428,921. PatentedSept. 12, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEE] 2.

! lz lo In 9 g Patented Sept. 12, 1922.

`UNITED STATES vPATENT ori-fica.v

Tnons J. sTUnTEvANT, or :wELLEsLEm MAssAcnUsETT-s, ysalamoia To STURTE.

vaNT mu. couraNY, or BosToN, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION `oli* MASSA.

enUsETTs. v

APPARATUS FOR MANUFCTURINGACID IPHOSPHATE 0R SUPERPHOSPHATE Application iled April 26, 1921. Serial No. 464,649.

i To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. S'runTnvANT, a citizen of the United States, resldmg at Wellesley, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Apparatus for Manufacturing Acid 'Phosphate or Superphosphate, of

which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, isa

specification, like characters on representing like parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to apparatusl for manufacturing acld phosphate or superphosphate. Y 0

Phosphate rock as it naturally occurs 1s unfit for use as a fertilizer, on account of its insolubilty.' Therefore, it -is necessary to treat the phosphate rock so as to convert the the drawings insoluble phosphate therein into soluble phosphates which can be applied to the soil and be assimilated by plants. 0

This is usuallyaccomplished by mlxmg the ground phosphate rock with an acid,

such, for example, as Sulphuric acid which removes two parts of the lime of the phosphate rock as gypsum and leaves one part of the lime combined with phosphoric acid as monobasic or acid phosphate of lime soluble in water.

The mixed'ground phosphate rock andv f objectionable and injurious to workmen empile.

`ployed in removing the material from the den and in conveying the same to the curing The' mixture of ground phosphate rock and acid when introduced into the den, 1s in the form of a sludge or molten mass, but

after the miicture hasremained in the den and the chemical reaction has progressed, the mixture changes to a spongy or more or less solid mass. This mass is picked down or d1s1ntegrated by the workmen to prepare the materials for delivery to the curing pile.

The present invention provides an apparatus whereby the mixture of ground phosphate rock and acid mayy be continuously dellvered into the upper end of a tower or den and advanced downward therein. 'As

automatically, and requires little attention on the part of the workmen attending the apparatus.

The disintegrated materials gravitate downward and are received ,by a conveyor which carries the same to a curing pile where they may remain a short time to allow the chemical reaction to' continue. u

Means is provided automatically to draw the Steam and noxious fumes from the tower, and means is provided to aerate'and dry the 4materials as they are disintegrated.

The character of the invention may' be best understood by reference to the following description of onegood form of apparatus embodying the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the apparatus;

-F ig.- 2 on an enlarged scale is a planof the y construction shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 on an enlarged scale is a vertical i section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4 4" of Fig. l; and

' Fig. 5 on an enlarged scale is a horizontal section taken on line 5-4-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus shown therein as one good formof the invention, comprises a tower having a frame comprising four corner posts 1 conveniently of I-beam form connected by lower transverse I-beams or members 3 and upper transverse I-beams or members 5. At the upper end of the tower is a top frame comprising transverse I-beams or members 7 supported by the corner posts and croing I-beams or members 9 mounted on the I-beams or members 7. l

The, lower portion of the tower is provided with short walls 11and the upper portion of the tower is provided with walls 13. In;

terposed between theflower and upper wallsl are adjustable walls 15 and 17. These walls may be ad'ustably secured by cross bars 19 conveniently of channel form secured by yokes 21 embracin the cross bars and extending through t e I-beam c'ornerI posts, the end portions of the yokes being provided with nuts 23 which enable the side wallsV 15 and 17 to be adjusted outward for a purpose to be described.

-The tower ma be provided with means for supportingft ev more or less solid mass of the mixture, -and for feeding the same downward in the tower. This means, in the present instance of the invention, is in the form of a feed screw^25 fast l.on a shaft 27 having its upper end connected by a universall joint 29 with a supportin shaft 31. Mounted on this supporting sha t is a bevel gear 33 having the back face thereof resting on and supported by conical rollers 35 journalled on studs 37 carried by a ring 39 on a bearing plate 41. The conical rollers rest on a conical face of rthe bearing plate, and the outer ends of the conical rollers may engage the inner face of the ring 39 to limit outward axial movement of lthe rollers. v

Meshing with the bevel gear 33 is a bevel pinion 43 (Figs. 1 and 2) fast on a shaft 45 journalled in a bearing in a casing 47 enclosing the bevel gear 33, the rollers 35 and the supportin shaft 31. The shaft 45 is also journalle l in a bearing in a casing 49 (Fig. 3) supported on uprights 51 mounted on the cross, beams 9 referred to.

A worm wheel 53'fast on the shaft 45 is driven by a worm 55 on a shaft 57 provided with `a pulley 59 which may be driven from a suitable source of power. The construction is such that the feed screw 25 may be slowly rotated to feed the spongy or more -or less solid mass downward in the tower.

The ground phosphate rock and sulphuric or other acid may be thoroughly mixed in any suitable mixer of usual construction, and therefore, unnecessary to be shown herein. The mixed materials may be continuously supplied to the tower and delivered into the same through an opening 61 in the top 63 thereof.

The steam and noxious fumesresulting from the chemical reaction occurring in the tower may be removed from the tower through an outlet 65 connected by a pipe 67 .with a suitable fan 69.

et the lower end of the tower a suitable disintegrator or cutter may beprovided, in the present instance, comprising a multiplicity of knives 71 (Figs.` 1 and 4) carried by i sprocket chaiins 73 on sprocket wheels 75 having shafts 77 journalled .in suitable bearings. One of lthese shafts may have a pulley 7 9' fast thereon, which maybe driven from a suitable source of power. The upperruns of the sprocket chains mig` be supported on and slide along bars 81 ig. 4) supported in turn by beams 83. The cutter knives are sol distributed tha-tin the upper run thereof they cover the lower open end o f the tower.

neath the tower and receiving the `cutter is a hopper 85 having an outlet 87 for delivering materials'to an endless conveyor 89.

To aerate the disintegrated materials, the hopper 8 5 may be provided with a chimney 91 providedfwith a fanv 93 of usual construction for drawing a current of air upward through the materials as they gravitate downward inthe hopper 85.

In operation, the mixture of ground'phosphate rock and acid is continuously delivered into the top of the tower through the inlet opening 61. This mixture which, as stated, is in sludge or molten form, may gravitate downward onto the cutter at the lower end of the tower. It is desirable that a quantity of ground' phosphate `rock shall first be placed on the knives and fill the. spaces therebetween to servel as a foundation for the sludgev and -prevent its escape between the knives in startin the apparatus.

After the slu ge has been fed into the tower in sufficient amount substantially to fill the same, the lower portion ofthe mass will change from sludge to spongy or more or less solid form iii the course of the chemical reaction. The length of the upper xed walls 13 of the toweris such that these walls will hold the mixture while in sludge form,

I and advance the same downward. The screw not only serves to feed the mass downward, but desirably supports the same, so that the knives do not have the burden of supporting the mass.

After the materialsyhave solidified sufli?.

ciently, so that the feeding of the-mass may be commenced, the side walls 15 and 17 are adjusted outward somewhat by adjustment of the yoke nuts 23. This prevents bond and friction between the mass and adjustable walls such as might interfere with ready feed of the mass downwcard by the screw.

The chemical reaction is'moreactive when the sludge is in the upperend of the tower.

ferrjfgaicient .phespimte Thesteam and noxious fumes developedA durmg..this. chemicalA reactionl are drawn u ugh the outlet 65 and e cutter will progres- ,ng act on the lower face of the mass""at"the" bottom of the tower, disintegrateonbreak `doWn'fthe mass, and

f e"into the hopper The 4 y'egflniv'es 71.y iss such "that i have their cutting action, lsense as a fan to blow a yrials"` disintegrated, and

are further aerated and i'rent which is drawn by I p through the hopper.v

'gr ted materials gravitate 'e hopper tothe outlet 87, nsfferred by the conveyor 89 ,z to `the"`ci1ring"pile,'where'the chemical rev .ffllllhll continue for a short "the materials are' ready nd'use,

the phosphate rock may 11d progressively carried he appa is largely automatic little `attenti on on the part of Y'Siiice'-the apparatus `is subthe steam and noxawn away from the apworkman is protected from inilirrtherefrom- "T feed screw and the speed offth',fcutter mayjbe regulated as desired ration. t

d that the invention fthe specific embodiment ',s`l;1o\\" fI 1,"v t various deviations may be milde therefrom vithout departinv from the l claims.

` 'hat isf.;- "1. .Afn appartusfor manufacturing acid naar a i; in combination, a y denaine s tofadinitv t e mixture of ground i acid into the upper end `of`the den. a li'sint'egrator at the lower end fof thfe'clen;a ""1 screw conveyor mounted Uin said denf'ff 'feeding the materials, after change",tofs form, down through the den t0 l "(isiiltgratvr- Ana`ppa r rrtusffor manufacturing acid phosphate' prising, in combination, a i d mit a mixture of ground means having provision for sustaining 'immateriale abfve the disintegrator.

3. apparatus for. manufacturing acid .y phosphate, comprising, combination, a

` Goden; toadimitja'*mixture of ground dry the same. The udis,

phosphate rock and acid into the upper end ofthe den, a disintevrator at the lower end of the'den, a supportmg shafft,"a feedscrew, .and a universal' joint connecting said feed screw with the supportingshaft, said 'feed screw being'adapted to support and feed the materials to thedisintegrator after the materials have changed from moltenv to spongynmass form.

' 4. apparatus for manufacturing acid phosphate,` comprising, in combinatiomfa' den',means to admit a mixture of ground phosphate rock andA acid' into the upper end of-'thedemv a disintegrator'at the lower :end of the den, and a screw conveyor free for swinging movement in the den andadapted to supportf and vfeedmaterials 'to the disintegrator after theyV have changed from molten to spongy mass form.

5. An apparatus for manufacturing acid phosphate, comprising, in combination,v a den, means to admit a semi-liquid mixture of ground phosphate rock and acid into the' upperend of .the den, a disintegratorat the lower end ofthe den, and means for supporting and feeding the materials down to the disintegrator after they have changed from semi-liquid to spongy mass form.

6. An apparatus for manufacturing acid phosphate, comprising, in combination, a vertical den, meansvto admit a semi-liquid mixture of ground phosphate rock and acid into the upper end of the den, a disintegrator at the lowerr end ofkthe den having knives adapted to cut across the lowerend 100 of the den, and a screw conveyor for sup' porting and feeding materials to the disintegrator after they have changed from semi-liquid to solid mass form.

7. An apparatus for manufacturing acidv phosphate, comprising a den having upper fixed wall portions and lower adjustable wall portions, means to'admit a mixture of ground phosphate rock and acid into the upper end of the den, and means for su porting Vand feeding the mixture to the dlsintegrator after materials have changed from semi-liquid to spongy mass form.

8. An apparatus for manufacturing acid phosphate, comprising, in combination, a den, means to admit a semi-liquid mixture of ground phosphate rock and acid intoV the upper end of the den, and a disintegrator at the lower end of the den comprising an endless carrier andknives mounted on said carrier adapted to act across and break down the materials after they have changed from semi-liquid to solid form. v

9. An apparatus for manufacturing acid phosphate, comprising, in combination, a den, means to admit a mixture of ground phosphate :rock and acid `into the upper Aend of the den, a supportingshaft, a bearing for said shaft mounted'at the upper end of the den, a screw conveyor connected toisaid 130 l support throu Y phosphate,

supporting shaft for feeding the materials down through the den after they have changed from semi-liquid to solid form, and a disintegrator at the lower end of the den for breakingV down the materials as they are fed thereto by the screw conveyon 10. An apparatus for manufacturing acid comp-rising, in combination, a den, means to introduce a mixture of ground phosphate rock and acid into the upper end of the den, means to liberate from the den, steam and noxious gases accompanying the chemical reaction of the materials at the upper end of the den,ua vdisintegrator at the lower-end of the den, and means to and feed the materials down gh the den to the 'disintegrator after they have changed from semi-liquid to solid form.

11. An apparatus foi` manufacturing acid phosphate, comprising, in combination, a den, means to introduce a mixture of ground phosphate rock and acid into the upper end of the den, means for feeding the materials down through the den l after the have changed from semi-liquid to solid orm, a hopper at the lower end of the den, and a disintegrator for breakingl down the solid materials and delivering t e same into said hopper. i

12. An apparatus for manufacturing acid phosphate, comprising, in combination, a den, means tolintroduce' a semi-liquid mixture of ground phosphate rock and acid into the upper end of the den,.means to support and feed the mixture down through the den after change from semi-liquid to solid form, a disintegrator at the lower end of the den for breaking down the materials, and means to remove gases from the materials as they are broken down.

13. An apparatus for manufacturing acid phosphate, comprising, in combination, a den, means to introduce a semi-liquid mixture of ground phosphate rock and acid into the upper end of the den, means to support and feed the materials down' through the den after change from semi-liquid to solid form, a disinte ator at the lower end o f the den for breaking down the materials, a hopper for receiving the materials from the disintegrator, and a conveyor for receiving and moving the materials from the hopper. y

14. An apparatus for manufacturing acid phosphate, comprising, in combination, a den, a screw conveyor mounted in said den,

-a hopper'at the-lower end of the den, a disintegrator inf said hopper having knives acting across the lower end of the den, and a conveyor at the lower end of the hopper.

15. An apparatus for manufacturing acid phosphate, comprising, in combination, a den, a screw conveyor mounted in said den, a supporting shaft connected to the screw conveyor, a bearing sustaining the supporting shaft, a gear on the supportingV shaft, a gear meshing therewith, means including a worm and worin gear for rotating said gears, and' a disintegrator at the lower end of the den. v

`16. An apparatus for manufacturing acid phosphate, comprising, in combination, a

breaking down the solid mixture at the lower end of the den.

17. An apparatus for manufacturing acid phosphate, comprising, in combination, a den, means to introduce a mixture of ground phosphate rock and acid into the upper end of the den means to support and feed the mixture after change from semi-liquid to solid form down throu h the'den, a disinterator at the lower en of the den comprising an endless carrier having knives thereon to break down the solid` materials, and means to sustain and guide the upper run of the-endless carrier. v

18. An apparatus for manufacturing acid phosphate, comprising, in `combination, a den, means for delivering a Semi-liquid mixture lof ground phosphate rock and acid to the den to remain therein until the mixture solidifies, a disintegrator v ositioned below the mixture within the en so that the weight of the-mixture tends to move the solidified mixture into position to be acted upon and disintegrated by the disintegrator, and means for operating the disintegrator,

19. An apparatus for manufacturing acid phosphate, comprising, in combination, a'

den having its walls constructed to permit a mixture that has solidified therein to move downwardlyto the lower end of the den, means for delivering a semi-liquid mixture of ground phosphate rock and acid to the den to remain therein until the mixture solidiies', and a disintegrator positioned belowthe mixture that has solidified within the den .and o erable continuously to remove solid material from the lower face of the mixturel during the delivery of semiliquid material tothe upper part of the den.

20. An apparatus for manufacturing acid phosphate, comprising, in combination, a den, means for delivering va semi-liquid mixture of ground phosphate rock and acid to solidilies, a disintegrator positioned below the mixture, and means for effecting downthe den to remain therein until the mixture ward movement of the mixture within the den to bring they mixture that has solidified vinto position to be acted upon by the disintegrator. Y

21. An apparatus for manufacturing acid 5 phosphate, comprising, in combination, av

den for formingan acid phosphate block, a disintegrator positioned below the block to act upon the lower face of the block,

means for'feeding the block downwardly7 block.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

THOMAS J. STURTEVANT. 

